Conversations With Silas: Raising The Next Generation

Fri 1 PM | Convo Hall 3
Sat 3 PM | Convo Hall 3

Tony & Silas Caldwell

Come along with Tony and Silas, age 10, as their father/son journeys take them to the site of the Emmett Till murder and trial, to bear witness to predatory lending institutions, confederate symbolism, and other social ills in the Mississippi Delta; and culminate in 10 year old Silas recognizing and addressing systemic gender inequality on a university campus. This session provides examples of how parents can empower children by: tapping into their natural tendencies towards empathy and compassion, giving them opportunities to practice these innate characteristics, and guiding them in recognizing, processing, and addressing social injustice at age appropriate levels in the context of a larger hope. During this developmentally crucial time, we can not only “teach our children well” but “become as little children” ourselves in the process. Raising “woke” children is possibly our greatest opportunity to participate in the Kingdom of God here and now.

Tony Caldwell

Tony Caldwell is a Professor of Social Work at the University of Mississippi, a Jungian psychotherapist in private practice, an activist, and a member of the Red Letter Christian Network. Tony has partnered with The Human Rights Campaign, the W.W. Kellogg Foundation, The William Winter Institute For Racial Reconciliation, the Southern Poverty Law Center, The Levi Strauss Co., and the Toyota Corporation among others. He and his colleague, Dr. Jandel Crutchfield, have enjoyed success in their grassroots Together Projects promoting interracial and interfaith dialogue around issues of race, privilege, and justice across the state of Mississippi. He is currently leading The Underground Church, a reconciling faith community, in Oxford, Ms. and conducting research linking the nation’s poorest health outcomes in the Mississippi Delta to transgenerational trauma related to slavery, segregation, poverty, and marginalization. Tony writes frequently for RLC and many other publications. See more at: www.tonycaldwell.net

Silas Caldwell

Silas Caldwell is a follower of Christ who is compelled by his faith to address issues of inequality and injustice in the world. As a budding astrophysicist he aspires to a little bit like Neil deGrasse Tyson and a whole lot like Jesus. Silas plays violin and also has a rock band in which he sings and plays bass guitar. Silas is an NBA enthusiast. He loves his dog Scout and video games. Silas is bold and cautious, imaginative and thoughtful, creative and empathic, sensitive and independent. He embraces it all and encourages others to do the same.